Our makeup artist DaNina is featured in a article for The Beauty Consultant Magazine. We would like to say thank you to Anna Maria Little for giving us the opportunity. You can check out the article by clicking here

- Bring a little of that magic to your complexion this winter by dabbing highlighter drops onto the cheekbones, inner corners of your eyes, and brow bones. To draw out the warmer tones in darker skin, opt for a gold shade. For fair, pink tones opt of a pearl shade for a natural glow.

- Mix your one pump of your favorite hydrating primer with 1 drop of your foundation. Mix the two together and then apply using a foundation brush or beauty blender. It gives a lightweight finish and leaves the skin with luminous glow all day long.

Airbrush foundation is a light-weight makeup applied through an air gun machine that produces a thin, even layer of makeup and creates a matte or satin finish. I will mix foundation colors for a perfect blend to match your skin tone. Since it’s such a fine mist your true skin tone shows through which makes it look natural and like second skin. It will not transfer onto clothing and in professional photos it looks amazing! Airbrush makeup is waterproof (so bring on those tears!) and it won’t go anywhere until you wash it off. Be sure you don’t wipe away sweat/tears and instead ‘blot’. This will help guarantee 16 + hours of wear.

I highly recommend every bride to be to have a bridal trial. It is very important. Instead of stressing about your exact look on your big day, booking a bridal trial will give you the freedom to tweak and perfect your final look BEFOREHAND. This also gives us a chance to get to know each other. Because you've went through with your trial, now everything is spelled out for the big day. This will give you piece of mind and lets you concentrate on other things.

Gel or Cream liners are easier to apply than liquid liners because they aren’t as wet. Personally, I favor this type of eyeliner over the others because it’s easy to apply with practice, I can control the thickness of the line and it applies smoothly (I don’t hurt or tug my eyes when I apply this. Gel/Cream eyeliners give you a somewhat defined (not as defined as liquid), matte line. It’s one of the longest lasting liners (some don’t come off until you use eye make-up remover. Once it’s dry, it does not smudge and it’s usually waterproof. However, it’s less convenient to bring around as liquid liners because you have to bring around a brush to apply it. Also, you have to buy the brush to apply it.

Cons: You have to buy a brush to apply It, not convenient to bring around, More difficult to remove than other liners, You have to clean the brush often.

Cake Eyeliner

Cake Eyeliner is the liner many professionals use. It’s the most versatile out of all the liners. It can create clean, precise lines (depending on the brush), or you could blend it out before it dries (unlike liquid liner which dries much faster). Cake liners are water-activated powders that are packages in small compacts, much like eyeshadow. In order to apply it, you need to wet an eyeliner brush in water first then put it on like a liquid or pencil liner.

Pros: Versatile, Buildable, Vibrant, Stays on for a really long time, Does not flake off, Can create smoky eye.

Cons: You need to buy brushes, Might be difficult for a beginner to use, More difficult to find than liquid, pencil, and Gel/cream liners, Dries slower than liquid liners, you have to clean the brush.

If it’s your first time using eyeliner, it’s best to start with a pencil. Once you get comfortable with applying eyeliner, you can try using the other types of liners until you find the best eyeliner that works for you.

There are so many different eyeliners out there to choose from. Choosing the right eyeliner is important. But before you choose your brand of eyeliner, you have to choose what the best eyeliner application method is for you. There are four basic types of eyeliner: Pencil, Liquid, Gel or Cream, and Cake. Each type of eyeliner has its own pros and cons.

Pencil Eyeliner

Pencil liners are the easiest of the types of eyeliners to use. They are easier to control and are usually more subtle than the other types. Because of it’s ease of use, these types are the best eyeliners for beginners or those without a steady hand.

There are different types of Pencil eyeliners: Powder-based, Wax-Based, and Kohl.

Powder-based pencil liners are the best for beginners. They are the easiest to handle because the tips of powder-based pencil eyeliners are harder. They can create a beautifully defined, natural looking lines. However, they’re less pigmented and over sharpening the pencil can hurt your lid.

Wax-based pencil liners have a softer tip. The wax in the pencil makes application smoother so it’s more difficult to use than powder-based pencil eyeliners. These liners are more prone to smudging. However, being more prone to smudging is not always a bad thing. Wax-based pencil eyeliners can create beautiful smoky eyes.

Kohl is a soft powder that’s been used for centuries.

Kohl eyeliners glide on more softly and smoothly while imparting a high amount of pigment. It also smudges more easily than wax liners. However, it’s imprecise and more difficult to get a natural look when using this. Rather than use it for daytime events, school or office, It’s recommended for nights out.

Pros: Easiest to handle, More natural, good for beginners, good for creating smoky eyes.

Cons: Smudges more easily, difficult to create clean lines, Less pigment than the others, You need to sharpen it.

Liquid Eyeliner

Liquid liners are one of the most difficult types or eyeliners to apply. You need a steady hand or else your lined eyes will look like a mess. Even though it’s more difficult, liquid eyeliners can give you fine, clean, sharp and defined lines as well as high pigment. Once you get used to applying it, liquid liners can be applied very quickly and they can easily create tapered lines, much like a brush stroke.

Liquid eyeliners usually come in a bottle with an applicator. The applicator can be either brush or felt tip. Felt-tips are generally easier to use than brush tips but it’s more difficult to apply over eyeshadow.

Pros: Sharp and intense lines, Water Resistant, Usually Smudge-proof, Convenient, Fast to apply once you get used to it, Dries Quickly

Cons: Difficult to apply for beginners (especially for brush tipped liquid liners), Does not last as long as Gel liners, Cannot create a smoky eye.

Check out the dates below and find out when you should toss your makeup stash. Expiration dates begin from the time you first open the product. Each brand has their own expiration date for their products.

Powders and shadows: 6 months to 2 years

Cream shadows: 6 months to 12 months

Liquid Foundation and Concealer: 6 months to 1 year

Lipstick & lip liner: 1 year

Mascara: 3 months

Eyeliners: 6 months to 1 year

Moisturizers and Skin Care: 1 to 2 years

Makeup brushes: Clean weekly using a mild detergent

Makeup sponges: Replace weekly, or when sponge becomes soiled

Tips for keeping your skin clean and your makeup fresh:

Smell your cosmetics. If they have an unusual odor, they may contain bacteria and should be discarded.

Always make sure that products are closed tight and stored out of sunlight, as this can destroy the preservatives.

Contouring is also called shading. It has gained a lot of attention in the last year or so as if it's a new thing, but it’s actually a trick that makeup artists have been using forever. With contouring and highlighting you can define your bone structure. Contour will make your nose appear smaller, cheekbones more pronounced, jaw more angular, forehead smaller, and eyes bigger. You can change the shape of your face with just using makeup.

Apply your highlight color on the top of your cheekbones, under your eye area, down the bridge of your nose, and in an upside-down triangle on your forehead.

Apply the contour color in the hollow of your cheekbones, down the sides of the nose, underneath your chin, in the depth of the temples, and along your hairline.

Next blend, blend, blend

If all of this sounds a little confusing to you, don’t worry it's okay because some Cosmetics lines have made it simple to make your face appear more lifted and bring out your best features instantly! Anastacia Beverly Hills, Kat Von D, SmashBox and Sephora have contouring kits I recommend.

If you want a no fail help with contouring and highlighting try a palette that comes with 2 to 4 contouring shades designed to match all skin tones and 2 highlighting shades in both a shimmer and matte.

Here are some helpful tips for when you are contouring and highlighting. For contour, you want to always use a matte shade. It should be 2-4 shades darker than your skin tone. You may use a cream base or a powder for contouring. For highlighting, use natural shades that are lighter than your skintone, in powder, cream or liquid form.

Dermablend Original Setting Powder and Sacha Buttercup Setting Powder are two of my favorite powders to set the highlight under the eyes.

Invest in a good setting spray. This step is optional, but I highly recommended it. A setting spray will help your makeup last all day and keep everything looking natural and not cakey. Dermablend Set + Refresh Setting Spray is one of my favorites.

You should always apply your foundation first, you'll find that you don need to use as much concealer. If you apply concealer first, you'll remove most of it while applying your foundation.

The best way to apply the concealer is to draw a triangle with the base under your eye and the point toward you cheek. This triangle shape not only conceals dark circles, but it also instantly highlight your cheek bones. Its like a face lift without the surgery!

Covering up Dark Circle Tips

What You'll Need:

To conceal dark circles, use a corrector. Peach, pink or orange in color, this kind of corrector will counteract with the purple or green tones underneath the eyes that a concealer can't cover on its own. If your skin is pale, choose the lightest colors, starting with light pink. For deeper skin tones, choose a orange or dark peach. The formula should be creamy so it glides over your skin and won't settle into fine lines. Pat creamy corrector only on dark areas. Don't forget the innermost corners, where many of us have deep shadows.

How To Do It:

Apply a light eye cream underneath the eye area. It should absorb quickly and leave your skin feeling smooth. If you're using a corrector, use a fluffy concealer brush or your fingertip to apply it at the inner corner of the eye. Continue placing the corrector underneath the eye, staying close to the lashes and patting the corrector wherever your see darkness. Gently blend the corrector by pressing it with your fingers. You're now ready to apply your concealer. Use a fluffy concealer brush or your index finger to apply the concealer in thin layers. Be sure to blend well. Apply the concealer all the way up to your lash line and - this part is critical - onto the dark areas by the inner corners of your eyes. Blend the concealer it into the skin, using your fingers or a fluffy concealer brush in a soft, patting motion. Use a translucent power to set your concealer. Dip a small fluffy brush into a translucent powder and pat it under your eyes to set the concealer. Dust off any excess powder.

7. Blush/Highlighter: Blush is another beauty product that can help give you a healthy glow on your cheeks. Blush enhances your natural beauty, helps define your cheeks bones. Blush is meant to look natural so take it easy when putting it on and choose the appropriate shade or you will end up looking like a clown. We don't want that! ($30) NARS Blush, ($40) Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit , ($10) NYX Ombre Blush

10. Eyeliner: Eyeliner comes in many different colors. There are various types of eyeliner with different formulas that work best for different parts of the eye and for different reasons. If you are just starting out with makeup, or just seeing the power of eyeliner, do not be overwhelmed, learn the different types and figure out which ones work best for you and your look.ColourPop Gel Liner,$6 Rimmel London ScandalEyes Waterproof Kohl Eyeliner ,$4.49

Have you ever asked yourself “What do I need in my makeup bag ?,” well here’s your answer. Every woman should have these cosmetic products in their makeup bag. You don't have to use these products every day but it is a good idea to have them in your makeup bag just in-case.

1. Moisturizer with a SPF: Protecting your skin from the damaging UV rays is extremely important. If you don't protect your skin from the sun's UV rays you are putting your health at risk by being exposed to pre-cancerous cells that can led to skin cancer. Sunscreen also helps protect the skin from premature aging. So finding a moisture with at least a 15 SPF under your makeup is such a good buy. If you can find a foundation that has it in it is even better. There is no day like the present to start taking care of your skin. ($52) Arbonne Restorative Day Créme Broad Spectrum SPF 20 Sunscreen($16.99) Active Naturals Daily Moisturizer SPF 30

2. Face Primer: Primer is used as a base to prepare your skin for makeup, it smooths out your skin making it easier to apply makeup and also helps it stay on for longer. So I would highly recommend finding a good face primer it will make a world of a difference. ($42) Arbonne Makeup Primer ($30) TimeBalm® Primer Face Primer

When it comes to booking your hair & makeup appointment for your wedding day, you have two choices. You can go to a salon or the hair & makeup artists can come to you.

As for a on-site Professional Makeup Artist, I'm going to tell you why having your hair & makeup done on-site is the way to go:

Most salons are not tailored for the bridal party. You have to remember that salons also have to service their regular clients on top of your bridal party. Which you can also run the risk of running behind. Keep in mind that your photographer will have to try to avoid photographing other salon clients. Most salons don't have the right lighting for your makeup artist.

Having your hair & makeup done on-site is a much better option. It allows the bride her bridesmaids to relax because everyone is together in one place. Most of the brides I work with get a bridal suite at their venue or at a hotel. There’s no need to worry about having to transporting dresses, shoes, accessories, etc. because once hair & makeup is done, everyone can get dressed in the same area.

As a on-site makeup artist I will come in and set up. I will bring in my own lighting made just for makeup artist called (THE MAKEUP LIGHT). This white light is by far the most versatile color of light because of it can be reflected by any color. This means colored makeup looks truest under this light. Your photos will be much softer and more natural looking than those taken under the harsh salon lights.

If you’re trying to decide whether to go to a salon or to hire a on-site professional hair & makeup artist for your wedding day, I highly recommend going with on-site professional. The less stress you have on your wedding day, the better! Having your hair & makeup done on-site will definitely allow you and your bridal party to relax. You will not have to worry about a thing on your wedding day. We will make sure that you and your bridal party are well taken care of and done on time.